Near Dennevy, the Canal du Centre forms part of the waterway connecting the valleys of the Loire and the Saône. Cycling routes along the canal, the structures of the lock and the Pont de Dennevy, and Saint-André Church give the village several distinct points of interest. There is also a fishing stretch on the Dheune. Depending on your interests, you can explore Dennevy through cycling, architecture or an activity on the river.

Cycling, walking and the return journey

Dennevy is one of the villages along the Canal du Centre that is well suited to walks and cycle rides. One cycling route along the Canal du Centre passes through Saint-Gilles and Dennevy, then continues to Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune. Another cycling route along the Canal du Centre and EuroVelo 6 also passes through Dennevy. The towpaths along the Canal du Centre have been converted into cycle paths and form part of EuroVelo 6. The sequence of villages provides a practical way to plan a ride through several places; the EuroVelo 6 connection also places Dennevy within a wider cycling route network.

For the return journey after a cycle ride, you can take the TER from Saint-Léger-sur-Dheune station to Chalon; bicycles are allowed on board. The station is outside Dennevy, so treat it as a separate point when planning your route. As travel arrangements can change, check the timetable and the current rules for taking bicycles on board in advance.

The lock site, bridge and plane trees

Lock 22, known as Dennevy, is located on Reach 22 of the Saône-Méditerranée slope of the Canal du Centre. The site includes a Gauthey-type lock keeper’s house and an operating post dating from the 1950s. These two details provide distinct architectural points of reference: a house of a specified type and an operating post assigned to a particular period.

The Pont de Dennevy is a road bridge over the Canal du Centre. Its piers are made of masonry and its deck of metal; at the ends are metal railings with balusters. A row of old plane trees remains on the left bank. The bridge thus brings together its function as a road crossing, different building materials and a feature of the riverbank landscape.

Saint-André Church: phases of construction

Saint-André Church offers another glimpse into the area’s architectural history. Its surviving nave is Gothic. The crossing beneath the bell tower, the choir bay and the side chapel date from the 16th century. In 1848, the church was extended to designs by Lazare Narjoux, an architect from Chalon. The dates therefore represent different phases of construction: the specified architectural elements and a later extension.

Fishing on the Dheune

The permitted fishing stretch on the Dheune runs from the Glacis weir in Dennevy to the bridge at Saint-Jean-de-Trézy. When planning your trip, it is worth distinguishing between the canal and the river: the cycling routes follow the Canal du Centre, while the fishing stretch is on the Dheune. Check the current fishing rules before setting out, as access and regulations may change.

Discover more destinations: Couches, Vauban, La Chapelle-Thècle, Charnay-Lès-Mâcon, La Chapelle-Sous-Uchon, Romenay, Chevagny-Sur-Guye, Le Tartre

For the wider travel overview: Saône-Et-Loire.